Would you go away on a pricy 3 night break with friends?

[howtoparent]

I've been invited to go away just after the new year with old friends. It is a trip to los Angeles, so £1k 10hoyr plus flights, £500 hotel, spending money. I want to go with my girlfriends but feel bad leaving the family and spending that much (though it would really be noticed). Also, it's a long way for a short trip. YOLO or you'd be crazy to go...?

There's no way I'd go to LA for only three nights with anyone regardless of expense!

I'd rather spend the money on a longer more relaxing holiday.

Yes I’d go . Everyone needs an adventure

If you can, go!

YOLO. Also, good for your family to see you prioritising yourself.

even though you’re doing a fair bit of travel, travelling with friends is completely different to travelling with your family. Every bit of the trip can be part of the experience.

In saying that, there are some friends that I would want to do this way and others where I would not be so interested. Are these friends that you are close to you and that you have a great laugh?

I've done LA for 3 days (for work) many times, and even traveling business or first it's a drag. For £1k it's economy and you couldn't pay me to do it.

I’d never go to La for 3 days. That’s not fun

Nope - went to San Francisco some years ago for a 3 day business trip. Jet lag was horrible while there; just started to feel normal and had to come back. There are so many better places to go which are far closer.

True on the length of the break. Can they be talked into somewhere nearer to make the most of the time?

LA would be dreadful for 3 days. The jet lag would be crippling and honestly LA is not all that. NYC doable but not the west coast. Why LA?!

Agree with PPs - take the time and spend the money if you can afford it, but don't do the jet lag. 100% not worth it.

I definitely wouldn't. Hours on the plane (and in the airport) and barely 3 days away, plus you might suffer with jet lag. I can think of loads of better ways to have fun with that sort of money.

It's 3 nights and 3 days if that makes any difference...

Nope, that makes no difference at all. Madness.

No, of course not! Crippling jet lag and you’ll barely have got there before leaving again. I’d fly to NY or Boston for three nights if I got cheap tickets probably, but not the other coast.

How is that any different? Absolutely no way would I do that no way

No chance, too far. Jet lag will be horrendous, go somewhere closer to home.

New York is only 2-3hours shorter flight. But yes maybe it's too far 🤔 💭

I hate LA more than anything on earth and I get awful jetlag so no.

But I happily go away for longer, spending more money, with DH's blessing and support. He only cares if I'm somewhere scary doing something scary!

theyve Already booked so no

I used to do that 3-4 times a year for work

Even business class it was an absolute killer. You would just about get through the jet lag in time to come home and suffer it again

Why have they chosen LA for such a short length of time?! Unless it’s for a specific event it’s crazy

Would I go for a 3 night break with friends - absolutely
Would I spend half of it travelling and feeling like shite - hell no

I'd only spend that kind of money on a family holiday personally. But everyone has different circumstances, for some their friends are their family, and some people are richer, so I wouldn't say people should call it completely unreasonable, depending on the individual.

LA isn’t that great anyway. There are better places to go, but no I wouldn’t fly anywhere long haul for only three nights. It wouldn’t be worth the effort or expense.

Now somewhere closer…

No staying in LA, nearby in nice bit

I’ve done lots of trips/long weekends with my girlfriends but what you’re describing sounds really tiring because of the long journey and jet lag. For that reason I wouldn’t attempt it.

I was long haul cabin crew. Our west coast trips were 2 nights/ 2 days. You could get quite a lot done in them. But the difference in your case is I didn’t spend a lot of money to do that..

Would I go to LA for 3 days / nights ? - no, not even if it were free

Would I go on holiday with friends, and be happy to leave dc with dh ? - Yes, no problem

Would I spend £2Kish on a holiday ? That's going to depend on your finances. Now ? I might if it were something I really wanted to do. Although it would have to be a 'whole holiday' not a mini break. At the time when I had small dc, then it wouldn't have even come up because we didn't have that sort of money at that point. None of us know what % of 'spare money' in a year £2K is for you, and whether it means you will then have to say no to other things that would be nice.